Vol.02 PAT METHENY / WATERCOLORS (1977)
Hello, my name is Takumi Yumikiri.
The second issue of this series will introduce PAT METHENY's second album, "WATERCOLORS," which belongs to ECM, a music label with the concept of "the next beautiful sound after silence.
Pat Metheny's second album, Watercolors . The visuals on the cover are also thoroughly visual.
ECM" is a jazz label founded in Munich, Germany in November 1969 under the leadership of Manfred Eicher. In addition to the music, the artwork is outstanding, and the label has attracted attention for its innovative design, which has never been seen on a conventional jazz album.
As for the sign designers, B&B Wojirsch and Dieter Rehm of Brunkhard and Barbara Wojirsch (B&B Wojirsch) are still famous.
However, on Metheny's second album, the work was done by Lajos Keresztes and Dieter Bonhorst (the duo is credited on a number of ECM releases in 1977).
To return to the point, the reason why "ECM" was so dominant in its time was that Eicher, the general manager of the company, always made the final checks before releasing the product to the world. Everything about "ECM" was the product of his intelligence and sensitivity, and both the sound and visuals were unified by Eicher's aesthetics and were beautiful to the highest degree.
My first encounter with Metheny was in 1987 on "Best Hit USA", which was airing on TV Asahi at the time. When I just saw Metheny, I remember that Metheny's "Last Train Home" and U2's "With Or Without You" were competing for the first and second place (I can't think about that now...).
. I still wonder why, when I listen to those two songs, I am instantly transported back to my childhood. . Perhaps they were quite shocking, including the characteristics of the music.
And this "Watercolors" was released in 1977 , 10 years before my meeting with Metheny. This was also the year that I acquired Lyle Mays, Metheny's right hand man up to the present day.
For me, "ECM" is an important music label that has inspired me to seriously consider the beautiful relationship between music, visuals, and imagination.
I would like to close this second issue by wishing for an abundance of works of creation with overwhelming beauty, not only in music, but in various cultures as well. See you next month.
PROFILE
Born in Tokyo in 1974, he dropped out of Kuwasawa Design School in 1996 and started a custom-made shirt brand while working on costumes for theater companies and entertainers. 2000 AW he started his fashion brand "Yuge". In June 2018, he opened "Adult Oriented Records" in Yoyogi Uehara, and is currently presenting "modern AOR". AOR" in the modern age.
